Rail-fastening.



E. HOGREBE.

RAIL FASTENING.

APPLICATION FILED APR.30,1913.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

ARTHUR E. HOGREBE, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-FASTENING.

T0 alkwhomit may concern Be it known t at I, ARTHUR E. Hosanna, a citizen of the United States. residing at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

The general object of my invention is to provide a fastening which willbe more secure than the ordinary spike.

More particularly, the invention includes a clip which bears at one side upon. the tieplate and upon the other side upon the rail base, and is free from any contactbetween such sides. In combination with this is a screw bolt or spike which firmly engages the tie and also engages the clip to pull the same firmly down upon the tie-plate and rail. The engaging parts of the spike and clip are made to 'Jermit any necessary or desirable degree oi universal movement of the spike and clip in relation to each other, so that the clip will firmly engage the tie- .plate and rail without restraint by the said engaging members, and so that the axis of the spike may vary considerably in relation to the clip without affecting the capacity of the spike to properly engage the clip and hold it in operative position.

The invention further comprises the construction and arrangement of the part of the spike overlying the clip, so that the engaging members of the clip and spike are effectually covered and protected from access of moisture, dirt, etc, so that the life of the fastening is greatly prolonged and its efiectiveness increased.

The accompanying drawing shows one exemplifying structure in which the invention is embodied, but it is to be understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in different forms.

Figure l is an elevation in a plane transverse the rail, all parts at the left of the rail. being shown in section except the lower part of the screw spike; the parts at the right of the rail being shown in full except the tie-plate, which is cut away around the spike. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the clip and spike, and 'Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the clip. e

,R designates a rail havin a base B. The base rests on the tie-plate The tie-plate P rests upon the usual tie T, of wood or other suitable material ca able of receiving a screw-threaded spike. lit each side of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Applicaticnfiled April 30, 1913.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 764,619.

rail its base is engaged by one or more fastening devices, each of which comprises a clip 1 and a screw-threaded spike or bolt 2. The clip is preferably of approximately rectangular form so that an outer bottom hearing edge 3 of suitable length is provided for engagement with the tie-plate, and an inner bottom bearing surface 4 of considerable length and area is provided for engagement with the rail base. 4 is, of course. suitably shaped to accommodate itself to the shape of the rail base. At the other two sides, the clip is provided with ribs 5, terminating in shoulders 6, which engage against the edge of the rail base and prevent the clip from turning. Substantially centrally the clip is provided with a hole 7 considerably larger than the shank of the spike, and surrounding this hole the clip is provided on top with a ball 8. Above this ball the spike has an enlargement J, which may be designated for identification as a cap, the under par? of which is formed into a spherical socket it"; to engage ballfi. The cap 9 considerably overlaps the ball, coming well down upon its sides. Above the cap, the spike is provided with a poly ognal head 11 to be engaged by a suitable wrench for inserting the spike.

Of primary importance is the fact that the cap 9, as just explained, protects the ball joint 8, 10, and prevents access of moisture or dirt to the engaging surfaces. Busting or other injury to the joint is thus prevented, so that the joint has much longer life than in any case where such protection is not alforded. This protection of thejoint is secured at the same time that the spike is shaped to provide a very effective ball socket to receive the ball 8 of the clip. The ball engagement between the spike. and clip enables the clip to freely assume any position without reference to the exact position of the spike, and, therefore, when the spike is screwed firmly into the tie the outer edge 1 or surface 3 of the clip is forced firmly upon the tie-plate and the inner surface 4 is firmly engaged with the rail base, and these areas of engagement are ample to securely hold the rail. The ball engagement between the spike and clip also permits the spike to be inserted in the tie without the strictest regard to accuracy. At the left, in Fig. l, the s ike isrshown inserted in true vertical position. But the axis of the spike may vary a. great deal from the vertical position without afiecting the security of the fasten- For instance, as'shown in the right, Fi 1, the axis of the spike may be the line w-a:, and the cap 9 and other visible parts of the spike are shown in a position correspondin to that axis. It is evident, Without further explanation, how the joint acts properly to insure efficient locking of the rail iii-such a case. Similarly, the axis of the spike may be on the line yor any other line passing substantially through the center of the hole in the tie-plate and having an angle reasonably near the vertical.

Element 3 or the clip may be referred to for identification-as a foot, and element 4 may be identified as a rail engaging member. The spike and clip together form a new article of manufacture, and may be used as a rail fastening even without tieplate I, for then the foot 3 could rest upon tic, although it is probable that in most cases a tie-plate would be employed.

I claim 1-- 1. In a rail fastening, the combination with a rail support and rail, of a clip adapted to engage said support and the rail base, a screw bolt, and a ball joint intermediate the clip and spike, a part-of the spike above the joint being arranged to overlie and protect the joint.

2. In a rail fastening, the combination with a rail support and rail, of a clip engaging said support and rail base, a spike substantially spherical, engaging members on the spike and clip, and means carried by the spike overlying said engaging members and protecting them from moisture, etc.

3. In a rail fastening, the combination with a support and rail, of a clip having a member to engage said support and a member to engage the rail base, a spike passing through an aperture in said clip, a ball formed on the clip about said aperture, a spherical socket provided upon the spike to engage said ball, and means carried by the a 5. In a rail fastening, the combination of.

a tie, a tie plate and railthereon, a clip having a member to engage the rail base, the clip being apertured substantially centrally, a spherical member upon said clip about said aperture and a screw spike passing through said aperture and provided with a cap overlying said spherical member, said cap being provided on its under face with a spherical socket to engage said membenand a polygonal member upon the upper end of the spike to receive a wrench or the like.

6. As a new' article of manufacture, a rail fastening, comprising a clip havin a foot and a rail-engaging member, the clip being provided with an aperture between said foot and member, the clip also being provided with an upper spherical seat surrounding said aperture, and a spike provided with a cap adapted to overlie and protect said spherical seat and having on its underside a spherical socket to engage said spherical seat.

ARTHUR E. HOGREBE. Witnesses:

ALBERT T. J ores,

RICHARD P. POWELL.

Eagles at thls patent may be obtained (or five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Waahington, D. G. 

